WRNX
Encyclopedia
WRNX is an American radio station
licensed
to serve Amherst, Massachusetts
. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications
and the broadcast license
is held by CC Licenses, LLC.
The station was assigned the WRNX call letters by the Federal Communications Commission
on September 21, 1990.
format. The format change to country music from WRNX's longtime adult album alternative
format is part of sister station WPKX
's application to relocate its transmitter to Hartford, Connecticut
. As of October 31, 2011, the station is now simulcasting WPKX as "My Kix 100.9" as part of this move.
In addition to its usual music programming, WRNX has served as the flagship station for University of Massachusetts
athletics broadcasts. The station has carried all of the school's men's basketball, hockey and football games plus coaches shows and women's basketball games since 2002.
. (James Morrell, chairman/CEO) reached an agreement to acquire WPNI
and WRNX from Western Massachusetts Radio Co., (Thomas G. Davis, president) for a reported sale price of $8 million. The broker for this transaction was Doug Ferber of Star Media Group, Inc. At the time of the purchase, WRNX broadcast a rock-leaning adult album alernative music format.
In the summer of 2006, Clear Channel Communications (John Hogan, CEO, radio) reached an agreement to acquire WRNX from Pamal Broadcasting Ltd (James Morrell, chairman/CEO) in exchange for five radio stations on other states. The other stations in the deal are WBPM
and WGHQ
in upstate New York, WZRT
and WSYB
in Rutland, Vermont, and WPYR in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
. Published reports state that no cash changed hands in this transaction.
, host of The Rachel Maddow Show
on MSNBC
and former Air America Radio
personality, got her start as an on-air personality through a contest at WRNX. Maddow says, "I was crashing with friends in Massachusetts, working odd jobs, when they told me to try out. And they hired me on the spot. Radio came to me, I didn't come to it."
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
to serve Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
and the broadcast license
Broadcast license
A broadcast license or broadcast license is a specific type of spectrum license that grants the licensee the privilege to use a portion of the radio frequency spectrum in a given geographical area for broadcasting purposes. The licenses are generally straddled with additional restrictions that...
is held by CC Licenses, LLC.
The station was assigned the WRNX call letters by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
on September 21, 1990.
Programming
WRNX airs a country musicCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format. The format change to country music from WRNX's longtime adult album alternative
Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
format is part of sister station WPKX
WPKX
WPKX is a Country music formatted radio station licensed to Enfield, Connecticut, and located in Springfield, Massachusetts...
's application to relocate its transmitter to Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. As of October 31, 2011, the station is now simulcasting WPKX as "My Kix 100.9" as part of this move.
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
athletics broadcasts. The station has carried all of the school's men's basketball, hockey and football games plus coaches shows and women's basketball games since 2002.
Ownership
In spring 2003, Pamal Broadcasting LtdPamal Broadcasting
Pamal Broadcasting, Ltd. is a family-owned radio ownership with stations in medium-to-small markets in the Northeast and Florida. Based in the Albany suburb of Latham, New York, Pamal Broadcasting was founded in 1986 as Albany Broadcasting when business man James J. Morrell entered broadcast...
. (James Morrell, chairman/CEO) reached an agreement to acquire WPNI
WPNI
WPNI is an American radio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to serve the community of Amherst, Massachusetts.-Ownership:...
and WRNX from Western Massachusetts Radio Co., (Thomas G. Davis, president) for a reported sale price of $8 million. The broker for this transaction was Doug Ferber of Star Media Group, Inc. At the time of the purchase, WRNX broadcast a rock-leaning adult album alernative music format.
In the summer of 2006, Clear Channel Communications (John Hogan, CEO, radio) reached an agreement to acquire WRNX from Pamal Broadcasting Ltd (James Morrell, chairman/CEO) in exchange for five radio stations on other states. The other stations in the deal are WBPM
WBPM
WBPM is a Classic Hits music formatted radio station licensed to Saugerties, New York, serving the Mid-Hudson Valley and Catskills...
and WGHQ
WGHQ
WGHQ is a United States radio station licensed to Kingston, New York and serving the Hudson Valley as well as a part of the Capital District market...
in upstate New York, WZRT
WZRT
WZRT is a radio station broadcasting a contemporary hit radio format. Licensed to Rutland, Vermont, USA, the station serves the Lebanon-Rutland-White River Junction area. The station is currently owned by Pamal Broadcasting....
and WSYB
WSYB
WSYB is a radio station in Rutland, Vermont.- Programming :WSYB programs a news, talk, and sports format. WSYB features a full complement of local high school and college sports coverage including football, basketball, and hockey. WSYB is home to the local talk show, "On the Air with Tim Philbin",...
in Rutland, Vermont, and WPYR in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
. Published reports state that no cash changed hands in this transaction.
Alumni
Rachel MaddowRachel Maddow
Rachel Anne Maddow is an American television host and political commentator. Maddow hosts a nightly television show, The Rachel Maddow Show, on MSNBC. Her syndicated talk radio program, The Rachel Maddow Show, aired on Air America Radio...
, host of The Rachel Maddow Show
The Rachel Maddow Show (TV series)
The Rachel Maddow Show is a news and opinion television program that airs weeknights on MSNBC at 9:00 p.m. ET. It is hosted by Rachel Maddow, who gained popularity with her frequent appearances as a liberal pundit on various MSNBC programs. It is based on her former radio show of the same name...
on MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
and former Air America Radio
Air America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
personality, got her start as an on-air personality through a contest at WRNX. Maddow says, "I was crashing with friends in Massachusetts, working odd jobs, when they told me to try out. And they hired me on the spot. Radio came to me, I didn't come to it."